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Codemasters signs Innerloop's sequel to Project IGI

Codemasters today confirms it has secured the global publishing rights (except Scandinavia) to IGI 2, the sequel to the winner of last year's PC Zone "Best First-Person Shooter" award. Innerloop Studios AS, the Oslo-based team that created the original, is developing the game and for the first time will include support for intense team-based multiplayer action.

IGI 2 is scheduled to launch in Q2 2002 on PC CD-ROM and Codemasters is making the game a priority title. The acquisition of IGI 2 continues Codemasters' successful 3rd party publishing programme. On PC the company has had great success with titles such as Severance: Blade of Darkness (RebelAct Studios) and more recently the no.1 best seller Operation Flashpoint (Bohemia Interactive) and continues to actively seek fresh triple-A product.

For IGI 2, the acclaimed superb stealth-based first-person shooter action returns, and continues the modern warfare and espionage theme of the original. The covert missions continue the career of David Jones, a former SAS soldier, now working freelance for the secret organisation, codenamed 'IGI'.

IGI 2 takes place soon after the events in the previous title, bringing back key characters in a brand new story and new locations across the globe.

The spiralling plot will take Jones through Russia, across Libya and into China in three linked campaigns, as he infiltrates a wide variety of locations including military airbases, harbours and secret government installations.

Each mission expands the plot and is sequenced with impressive animated scenes that continue to absorb the player in the game's carefully constructed narrative.

It won't be an easy ride: completely new Artificial Intelligence systems will give Jones' many enemies the ability to work together as effective teams, using realistic combat tactics and electronic security systems to locate him, hunt him down and neutralise him.

But at least he'll have the resources available to deal with them - whether hacking a security computer, sniping a guard from a distant tower, or storming a courtyard with all guns blazing. IGI 2 will feature an outstanding array of realistically-modelled weaponry in both single and multi-player modes, from sidearms and machine pistols to assault rifles and missile launchers.

Using its industry-leading landscape engine, Innerloop is creating breathtaking game environments including desert, temperate and even winter settings. The engine has been significantly enhanced and is capable of producing more varied and textured landscapes, more weather effects, night and low-light conditions and stunning water-based scenery.

Henning Rokling, Managing Director of Innerloop Studios AS enthuses:

"IGI 2 will be an incredibly strong game with an enthralling story line. The many fans of the first game will immediately feel at home, and a lot of effort has been put into further increasing the tension and excitement over the first game.

"We're very excited to be working with the highly reputable and experienced team at Codemasters. We have full confidence in their ability to help make IGI 2 a smash-hit sequel."

Says Gary Rowe, Head of Business Development at Codemasters:

"Innerloop Studios demonstrated exceptional expertise in the first-person-shooter arena with the original IGI, and their ambitions for this new title impressed us greatly. After the success of Operation Flashpoint, we're very excited to be working closely with such a creative team to produce a game that we're confident will be the most dramatic and entertaining first-person action adventure of 2002".